Post Offices Remove "IN GOD WE TRUST"

[Bill Hodges]

This has been circulated for some time now but I feel it's worth reading. I have verified that this HAS taken place. I must admit, I'm a little appalled by it having happened.




Dear Friends and Family,
*
*You may have heard in the news that a couple of Post Offices in Texas
*have been forced to take down small posters that say "IN GOD WE TRUST".
*They claim that the law is being violated; something silly involving
*"electioneering posters". (Is God running for office?)
*
*Anyway, apparently some radio show host has proposed that we should all
*write "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the back of all our mail.
*
*After all, that is our national motto, and it's on all the money we use
*to buy those stamps. I think this is a wonderful idea.
*We must take back our nation from all the people who think
*that anything that offends them should be removed.
*
*If you like this idea, please pass it on, and DO IT.
*
*Let's start a land swell of support for our cherished principles we all
*love and believe in.
*
*This won't cost you anything but a tiny bit of effort,
*and the RESULTS could be PRICELESS!
*
*God Bless America


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[pRIMrose]

I knew my computer was going to come in handy for something more than the internet. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin2.gif I already have label paper and I'm going to print "IN GOD WE TRUST" labels for all my outgoing mail. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag17.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/star2.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/usflag22.gif

I think it's a dandy idea even if the PO didn't take down the signs. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/twothumbsup.gif

[NWGOPMom]

Hey I'm with you Prim. What a great idea! http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif Ruth.

[Bill Hodges]

This is what lead up to the whole issue. The COMPLETE story of the Post Office removing the, "IN GOD WE TRUST" signs:



In 2002, Frank P. Williamson, a retired chemical engineer, spent $3,000 to purchase 300 16-by-20-inch framed posters displaying the motto "In God We Trust" in large white letters over the red, white, and blue colors of the American flag. Mr. Williamson donated the posters for display in public buildings (city halls, schools, libraries, police stations, and post offices) throughout Montgomery County, Texas, saying: "After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, I thought it would be good to promote our national motto. I know that the only reason *we've been successful in the past is that our forefathers put their trust in God way back."
In November 2002, a United States Postal Service (USPS) supervisor ordered the removal of these posters from the lobbies of government-owned post offices in several Montgomery county towns (including Montgomery, Dobbin, and Willis) because they "did not fit within postal guidelines," citing a USPS regulation prohibiting the "depositing or posting of handbills, flyers, pamphlets, signs, posters, placards, or other literature (except official postal and other governmental notices and announcements) in interior public areas on postal premises." (A small post office north of Houston was allowed to keep its poster on display after a supervisor determined that the office was a privately-run contract facility and was therefore not subject to the same "facility standards" as government-owned post offices.)

The United States' use of a national motto with a religious reference despite the First Amendment's prohibition against Congress' making any "law respecting an establishment of religion" remains a contentious issue. "In God We Trust" was established as the national motto of the United States through a law (36 U.S.C. Section 186) passed by Congress in 1956, and two federal statutes require its use on all U.S. coins and currency. Three federal appeals courts have heard cases (most recently in 1996) challenging the constitutionality of the mandated appearance of "In God We Trust" on coinage and currency, but all these cases have so far been unsuccessful. (The United States Supreme Court has not yet decided a case challenging the constitutionality of the national motto.) The precedent remains the ruling handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1970, that "It is quite obvious that the national motto and the slogan on coinage and currency, 'In God We Trust', has nothing whatsoever to do with the establishment of religion. Its use is of a patriotic or ceremonial character and bears no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious exercise."



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[butynbranes2]

Re: *the controversy over *'separation of church and state', consider the writings of George Washington, who made clear his position on the issue of religion and it's place in our government, by reviewing the following portion of his Farewell Address to the Nation:

"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, Religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labour to subvert these great Pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men & citizens. The mere Politican, equally with the pious man ought to respect & to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private & public felicity. Let it simply be asked where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the Oaths, which are the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure--reason & experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
'Tis substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government. The rule indeed extends with more or less force to every species of Free Government. Who that is a sincere friend to it, can look with indifference upon attempts to shake the foundation of the fabric."

Excerpted from: "The Papers of George Washington"/ the Farewell Address